Meerut cantt board increases house tax by 2%

MEERUT: Despite dissent from three board members, the Meerut Cantonment Board (MCB) on Wednesday decided to apply the revised rates of house tax in cantt area with immediate effect.

Even as the decision to hike house tax from 12% to 14% was taken during the board meeting in April this year, no notification had been issued.

The matter was raised by MCB secretary Rajeev Srivastav during the meeting. Though councilors Vipin Sodhi, Anil Jain and Dharmendra Sonkar raised objections to the proposal, it was passed by the members.

President of Cantt Board (PCB), Major General Sunil Yadav has instructed officials to issue tenders through the e-tendering process.

The issue of Ramlila – being organized at Bhansali playground of Cantonment Anglo Bengali Inter College for the past 60 years -- also came up for discussion at the meeting.

Earlier, the district magistrate had circulated a Government Order stating that no private or commercial activity would be held on the premises of any educational institution. The board members have now left the decision to hold the Ramlila at Bhansali playground with the DM.

The PCB also stated that he would urge the state government to release funds, which had been halted since 2010, to carry out development projects in Cantt’s civil area.

PRO, MA Zafar said, “The board also discussed the matter pertaining to Cantt executive engineer, Anuj Singh, who was sacked from his duties by former chief executive officer, DN Yadav, after irregularities surfaced. An inquiry was later set up against him. In an ‘on-camera’ meeting, it was discussed whether Anuj would resume his duties of the building section or not. The board will raise the issue in the next board meeting after taking legal opinion.”